It's the job that matters most
29 Jan 2007
Doing the right type of job is most important to process engineers, irrespective of which industry they are working in. Job content is rated as very important to a massive 73% of them and as quite important by a further 26%, a very clear indication that process engineering is a career that is very satisfying to its employees.
This emphasis on job satisfaction is further borne out when analysing the importance of their salary to engineers. Naturally, salary is a key factor when considering varying aspects of a career in process engineering, but the 'quite important' and 'very important' ratings are reversed in comparison with job content. A good salary is rated as very important by 44% of process engineers, but only as quite important by 55%. That would seem to leave 1% who don't care what they earn as long as they can carry on being process engineers.
Unsurprisingly, process engineers are well-qualified employees. Nearly half of those surveyed (45%) had an HND/HNC. And while only 9% were chartered engineers, a hefty 42% had a degree of some sort, with mechanical engineering being the most popular route.
Process engineers are overwhelmingly male — just 10 of PE's 486 survey respondents were female — and are likely to be earning something in the region of £20,001 - £60,000. Although we managed to find two respondents earning in excess of £100,000 and a further six with a salary over £80,000, four in every 10 process engineers (39%) are in the £30,001 - £40,000 range. Almost one in 10 (8.5%) earns in excess of £60,000.
Process engineers might easily be tempted to leave the UK and work overseas. Over 55% would consider job offers from overseas companies even if this meant they needed to relocate. Contrastingly, engineers seem a little fussy as to where they work in the UK: just 16% considered location as 'not very important' or 'not important'.
Although process engineers seem to be a fairly loyal bunch, with three in every four (74%) having been in their job for at least three years, six in every 10 (61%) say they would consider making their next career move within three years of starting with a new employer. In reality, however, process engineers may be more cautious than that apparent urgency to look for a new job indicates, as 87% say that the reputation of their employer is either 'very important' or 'quite important'.
Industry snapshot
Process Engineering received a total of 486 replies to the job survey questionnaire that was included with the September/October issue of the magazine. The survey, sponsored by independent executive search, selection and human resources consultancy Munro Consulting (01224 638537), provides a unique profile of professionals working in the process sector. At the same time, it highlights the quality of the magazine's readership, which is evenly represented across the key process industry sectors of chemicals, food & drink, pharmaceutical, oil & gas, utilities and rubber & plastics. Ian Dobson, technology manager at Jacobs UK, was the lucky winner of the digital camera
This emphasis on job satisfaction is further borne out when analysing the importance of their salary to engineers. Naturally, salary is a key factor when considering varying aspects of a career in process engineering, but the 'quite important' and 'very important' ratings are reversed in comparison with job content. A good salary is rated as very important by 44% of process engineers, but only as quite important by 55%. That would seem to leave 1% who don't care what they earn as long as they can carry on being process engineers.
Unsurprisingly, process engineers are well-qualified employees. Nearly half of those surveyed (45%) had an HND/HNC. And while only 9% were chartered engineers, a hefty 42% had a degree of some sort, with mechanical engineering being the most popular route.
Process engineers are overwhelmingly male — just 10 of PE's 486 survey respondents were female — and are likely to be earning something in the region of £20,001 - £60,000. Although we managed to find two respondents earning in excess of £100,000 and a further six with a salary over £80,000, four in every 10 process engineers (39%) are in the £30,001 - £40,000 range. Almost one in 10 (8.5%) earns in excess of £60,000.
Process engineers might easily be tempted to leave the UK and work overseas. Over 55% would consider job offers from overseas companies even if this meant they needed to relocate. Contrastingly, engineers seem a little fussy as to where they work in the UK: just 16% considered location as 'not very important' or 'not important'.
Although process engineers seem to be a fairly loyal bunch, with three in every four (74%) having been in their job for at least three years, six in every 10 (61%) say they would consider making their next career move within three years of starting with a new employer. In reality, however, process engineers may be more cautious than that apparent urgency to look for a new job indicates, as 87% say that the reputation of their employer is either 'very important' or 'quite important'.
Industry snapshot
Process Engineering received a total of 486 replies to the job survey questionnaire that was included with the September/October issue of the magazine. The survey, sponsored by independent executive search, selection and human resources consultancy Munro Consulting (01224 638537), provides a unique profile of professionals working in the process sector. At the same time, it highlights the quality of the magazine's readership, which is evenly represented across the key process industry sectors of chemicals, food & drink, pharmaceutical, oil & gas, utilities and rubber & plastics. Ian Dobson, technology manager at Jacobs UK, was the lucky winner of the digital camera
